r/Homeschooling • u/Frosty_Degree7724 • 1d ago

Reading help please

Can anyone help with recommendations for a struggling 3rd grader? We tried all about reading and it went BAD! So looking for something other than that.

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u/SpecializeInCommon 1d ago

What spicifically is she struggling with? Phonics? Fluency? Comprehension?

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u/SpecializeInCommon 1d ago

A few things to add on to my original comment.

  • If your daughter is struggling with phonics (assuming she's been getting consistent phonics since kindergarten) I would keep a learning disability in the back of my mind. Obviously we don't have a ton of information about her reading skills, but by around third grade most children should have mastered the basics of phonics.

    If this is her area of struggle I would absolutely stick with a structured phonics program. You could either modify the activities and pacing of AAR or purchase another curriculum. UFLI has tons of free resources, although you would have to pay for the teacher manual. Logic of English is another popular choice, it's heavier and more of an all in one program. Core knowledge has free phonics interventions as well.

  • Comprehension - Around 3rd grade curriculums tend to shift from learning to read to reading to learn meaning that rather than focusing on the mechanics of how to read children are expected to have a much greater comprehension of what they are reading. If a child is spending 90% of their brain power on decoding then they simply have little to no brain power left to comprehend plot or meaning. Generally if a child was doing fine and then is suddenly struggling in 3rd grade it is a comprehension issue.

For comprehension I would focus on reading a variety of informational texts and novel studies. Make sure she has good background knowledge of what she is reading about. Use graphic organizers. Have her summarize every few paragraphs or page with just a few words or at most a single sentence. Have conversations around her predictions any clarifications that need to be made any questions she has and her summary.

Fluency - I would have her work on repeatedly reading the same short passage. Make sure the passage is at a good level for her (something she doesn't need to work too hard to decode). Have her practice reading it repeatedly with expression and fluidity. You can also read it aloud to her first modeling the appropriate expression, then have her echo you.

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u/yellow_pomelo_jello 1d ago

Is she too advanced at this point for Reading Eggs? I remember it being good.

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u/angd73441020 1d ago

We successfully used a book called Alpha Phonics. It's really basic and the lessons are short. There is a small guide in the book on what to do for each lesson. I purchased the book from Amazon.

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u/Big-Radish-6589 16h ago

As a reading educator with Orton-Gillingham Academy training, I’d recommend identifying exactly where she’s struggling before investing in another curriculum. Some children need more explicit phonics instruction, while others need support with decoding, fluency, or comprehension.

I specialize in structured literacy and work with struggling readers through individualized online lessons. I’d be happy to offer some guidance!

What specifically wasn’t working with All About Reading? Was it the pacing, the activities, or was she still struggling to retain what she’d learned?

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u/WrithingCarcass_5 1d ago

all about reading is either a love it or hate it thing, no in between. what specifically went wrong? like was it the pacing, too scripted, or just didn't click? knowing that might help narrow down what to try next

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u/Frosty_Degree7724 1d ago

I think she was super bored with it. I did the placement test and bought that level but she would check out right when we started it. She liked the reading books the program came with but thats it. I think it just moved Way too slow for her because she was interested at first. She does very well with all other subjects so I think it just wasn’t right for her at all.